Former Upstate sheriff's candidate facing felony charge files lawsuit

The former candidate for Oconee County sheriff accused of trying to arrange the kidnapping of a retired judge has filed a lawsuit accusing an informant of setting up his arrest.

James Bartee, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent, was one of four candidates for Oconee County sheriff.

He was charged with solicitation to commit a felony in May.

Bartee is accused of trying to arrange to have retired circuit Judge James C. Williams Jr. kidnapped.

Solicitor Chrissy Adams said evidence was captured on audio surveillance, and Bartee gave a person money to buy items needed for the kidnapping.

Bartee is accused of trying to arrange the kidnapping after Williams filed an action asking for a judgment on whether Bartee was qualified to run for sheriff. The action also asked for an injunction against creating ballots with Bartee listed as a candidate.

Williams' filing claimed that Bartee was ineligible to run for sheriff because he was never a certified law enforcement officer under state law.

The decision on Bartee's candidacy was to be made by Judge Cordell Maddox.

Bartee was to compete in the June 12 Republican primary, along with current Oconee County Chief Deputy Terry Wilson and former sheriff's captains Donnie Fricks and Mike Crenshaw.

Bartee withdrew from the race before the primary.

Republican Party Chairman Eddie Adams ruled that Bartee was eligible to participate in the primary because under state law, former federal law enforcement officers are given "a South Carolina certificate as a law enforcement officer" if they present the appropriate credentials.

But Williams' lawyer said that, according to state code, a person must have "one year's experience as a certified law enforcement officer in South Carolina" to serve as sheriff.

Bartee was a U.S. Secret Service agent for 15 years. Fricks and Crenshaw both have 25 years' experience in law enforcement and Wilson has 19 years' experience.

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